Exporting Raymond

"Exporting Raymond" is an entertaining and insightful documentary that follows Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal as he attempts to adapt his hit sitcom for a Russian audience. The film thrives on Rosenthal's neurotic humor and fish-out-of-water persona, as he struggles with cultural differences, skeptical producers, and a creative team that doesn't quite share his comedic vision.

One of the documentary's biggest strengths is its behind-the-scenes look at the complexities of adapting American humor for a foreign market. Watching Rosenthal navigate language barriers and cultural misunderstandings provides plenty of laughs, but also offers an interesting commentary on the universality (or lack thereof) of comedy. His interactions with the Russian cast and crew, particularly the stubborn costume designer and the gruff, no-nonsense network executives, make for some of the film's most memorable moments.

However, while the documentary is charming and funny, it does feel repetitive at times, with some conflicts dragging on longer than necessary. Rosenthal's self-deprecating style is engaging, but his frequent bewilderment occasionally borders on exasperating. A bit more exploration into the success (or failure) of the adaptation after his departure would have added a stronger conclusion.

Overall, Exporting Raymond is an enjoyable, lighthearted look at the challenges of cross-cultural entertainment. While it doesn't delve too deeply into the bigger questions about globalization and media, it's a fun and engaging watch-especially for fans of Everybody Loves Raymond or anyone interested in the business of television.

Phil Rosenthal is the co-creator of the hit American TV show "Everybody Loves Raymond". He is offered a chance to adapt it to Russian TV. He is brought to Moscow but it's a case of fish out of water. An early nemesis is costumer Elena Starodubtseva who wants the highest of fashion for this regular middle class family. The writers are single and they don't get his comedy about marriage. Later, Phil finds out that they are overworked in this new field of sitcom writing in Russia. His constant support is translator Marina. There are problems with the executives and the hiring of the lead that he wants. In the end, it is the twists and turns of getting a TV show put on the screen. I don't watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" but that doesn't matter. It is a very insightful look in TV production no matter where. It is compelling to see if it works and actually funny with the exasperated Phil.

I saw this last night at a preview screening, and it was hilarious and extremely well done. The audience was laughing out loud from the first minute to the last, and also touched. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Phil Rosenthal made a delightfully sympathetic main character who remained incredibly nice, sincere and dedicated to the art of his task through an amazing array of frustrating obstacles. The story was truly stranger than fiction and fascinating to watch. It's a must-see for anyone in the film/TV business, or anyone who just likes to laugh.

If you can find a preview of this movie - go, and drag your friends.

It should have been classified as a documentary with a few laughs.

Shortly after he met the show's director and actors in Russia you knew the show was going to be a tough sell. Some humour doesn't cross culture lines. Try telling some seemingly funny jokes from Canada/USA to someone in India/Mexico/Peru and it just doesn't translate.

I would guess Russians don't insult their family members, people in authority, or argue over trivial matters. If they laugh at their version of "I Dream of Jeanie" or "The Nanny" they would get the humour of the Beverly Hillbillies or Green Acres (site gags and misunderstandings).

From what they showed of Russian humour it is from the Vaudville era.

This is a good documentary, but not of the creation of a Russian version of an American sitcom. It's a good documentary of a boorish (if not racist) New Yorker wondering why Russia is not like the world he knows. At around the time this film was made, I (an American) spent four months teaching at a university in Ukraine. I hope I was a better guest than Phil Rosenthal, but I was just as baffled by things I thought were "universal," but were really not. Throughout this documentary, Rosenthal constantly critiques things that are different about Russia, but he really doesn't attempt to understand anyone's point of view. He's only interested in what in their cultural makes him so hard to understand. He does all the Soviet schtick (Russia had been post-Soviet for 20 years when this film was made) and is just plain rude. When he finds out his driver is a veteran who served in Afghanistan, his immediate question is "did you kill anybody?" Imagine if a Russian tourist in the U.S. asked this upon meeting a Vietnam veteran. Rosenthal's sitcom is amusing, but this film definitely is not.